As promised, here is round two of book recommendations! (You can find the first set here.) I went a totally different route this time, as I am settling back into my all-time favorite genre: science fiction. The theme for this time is colonization of new worlds and relations between the people of Earth and the inhabitants of other planets.
What I’m Reading Now: The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
The Naked Sun is actually the second book in Isaac Asimov’s Robot Series, the first being The Caves of Steel and the third The Robots of Dawn. The main character is Elijah Baley, who is a police officer/detective and lives in the new version of New York City. He is forced to work with his new partner, R. Daneel Olivaw, who is a humanoid robot with a positronic brain. They have to work together to solve a couple murders, the first of which takes place on earth. The second requires Baley to travel to the planet Solaria, which was colonized by humans centuries before, but is now closed off to inhabitants of Earth. These books are a brilliant mixture of the colonialization of the beyond, technological advancements, and good old fashioned murder mysteries that will make you hungry for more.
Similar Reads: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
I thought this little known book was extremely fascinating because it beautifully combines two things humans often try to keep separate: science and religion. The book follows Peter, a minister who is called to preach the Gospel to the native inhabitants of the planet Oasis, who call the Bible the “book of strange new things.” As Peter learns to communicate with the natives, and subsequently strengthen their faith, he receives letters from his wife on Earth. Earth is crumbling and his wife is losing the faith that was once so strong. This is a poignant yet questioning narrative about the strength of faith and love that will leave you breathless.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
The Martian Chronicles is not your normal novel in that it is a collection of short stories, some of which have often appeared as stand-alones. The general story follows several human expeditions to Mars and their attempts to settle there, despite opposition from the native Martians. These stories are really a critique of the cold war era, atomic bombs, and the space race in disguise as stories on Mars. It is a classic that you don’t want to miss.
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
If you’re looking for a science fiction classic, look no further. In this book, Martians, who are much more technologically advanced than humans, come to Earth to make it their own. The main character, who remains unnamed throughout the entire book, writes about the death and destruction they bring upon London and the surrounding areas, as well as his harrowing journey to return to his wife. A critique of British colonialism in the 1800s, this is a science fiction great that has stood the test of time. It is short, surprisingly profound, and worth every minute of your time.